Everton supporters group the 1878s are calling on fans to buy Budweiser in the first 45 minutes of home games, with 50p from every pint going towards funding larger displays at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The initiative, run with the club and culinary partner Aramark, applies to the first three Premier League games. Pints bought between 1pm and 1.45pm inside the ground on Saturday will support the cause, while for the Crystal Palace game, pints bought on the fan plaza between noon and 1pm will also qualify.
Bigger displays needed at new ground
The 1878s produced huge tifo displays for home games with Arsenal and Liverpool last season, as well as flag displays for other matches. However, the move from Goodison Park to Hill Dickinson Stadium has required larger equipment due to the size of the South Stand.
A spokesman for the 1878s told the ECHO: “We are just urging people to get in the ground for 1pm. For that first 45 minutes, for every pint of Budweiser, 50p goes towards the funds for future displays and flags so if people can buy a few pints that will help us raise money for more flags and banners for displays.”
“The cost of the flags, poles and everything else is much more than at Goodison - everything needs to be bigger because of the size of the South Stand. At the moment we probably have 400 flags and we may need more than double that to fill the South Stand fully, which is our aim.”
Moody atmosphere aim
David Moyes identified improving Everton’s home form as a key ambition in his press conference ahead of the Palace game. The 1878s hope to build on the atmosphere generated in the Chelsea and Liverpool games at the new ground.
The spokesman said: “I think the Chelsea and Liverpool games were the moodiest Hill Dickinson had been and we need that stadium as moody and as noisy and loud as possible. It all comes down to the players but we want to make sure we are trying our best for everyone.”
For the Palace game, the group will lay out two 45-metre wide flags and urge anyone in the South Stand within the display to support it, stressing it will be completed by kick-off. The 1878s also plan new tifos and are grateful to Everton for providing donations and experiences, such as breakfast at Finch Farm and meeting Seamus Coleman last season, as raffle prizes.
